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New to even some native Kiwis in New Zealand, the Kahurangi National Park is one of the most recent additions to the country's natural landscape. When you take a medical job in New Zealand, you can visit this tucked-away spot in the northwest corner of South Island. With more than 350 miles (570 km) of walking tracks to traverse, make sure you set aside enough time to fully explore this massive expanse of tropical terrain.
At about 1.1 million acres (452,000 hectares), Kahurangi ranks as one of Aotearoa's largest national parks. Its name, loosely meaning "treasured possession," is an accurate description of the land. Brimming with alpine fields, meandering rivers and tropical forests, the park will keep you entertained from sunrise to beyond sunset.
Wildlife lovers can search for some of the unique species found throughout the diverse landscape, including gargantuan snails called Powelliphanta, the largest cave spider in the Land of the Long White Cloud and the famous little spotted kiwi.
One of the shorter walks where you can look for these creatures, as well as take epic photographs of the stunning parkland is the Matiri Valley track, which takes you on a three-hour journey through farmland, forests and giant plateaus all the way to the pristine Lake Matiri.